Everything you need to know about 2023 WSB Cape Town Met runners, UNIVERSAL. Trained by Adam Marcus, this four-year-old gelding has spent his entire career racing in the Cape. Will this familiarity breed Met success?
7) UNIVERSAL 14/1
This Adam Marcus-trained gelding tasted success on Met day last year when taking out the Grade 3 Politician Stakes. On that day he held off the likes of ZAPATILLAS on his way to picking up a R156 250 cheque. He impressed last time out finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Athonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy. He was only around half-a-length off the winner that day and managed to hold off POMP AND POWER as well as DO IT AGAIN.
He faces a high-quality field on Saturday but should be able to hold his own. Whether or not he’ll threaten the front of the race when they cross the post is up for question, though.
Jockey: JP van der Merwe
Trainer: Adam Marcus
Owner: Messrs G L Blank, B Kantor, G Piha, Joel Wilensky, D Yutar & H N Yutar
Breeder: Tawny Syndicate
Sire: Gimmethegreenlight (AUS)
Dam: Cupid by Jet Master
Age: 4
Colour: Bay
Sex: Gelding
Merit Rating: 116
Weight: 59.5
Draw: 7
Career Record: 10 runs (3 wins, 4 places)
Stakes Won: R555 275
Runs at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth: 10 (3 wins, 4 places)
Runs at 2000m Distance: 1 (1 place)
Notable Runs:
2nd in the 2022 WSB Green Point Stakes (Gr 2) 1600m
2nd in the 2022 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby (Gr 1) 2000m
1st in the 2022 Cape Racing Politician Stakes (Gr 3) 1800m
Trainer Comments: Coming soon.
Winning Form Comments:Best MR:116. Fought hard in latest when close-up at the wire. Won on this day last year.
2023 WSB Cape Town Met
R2 000 000 – 2000m – Grade 1
Saturday 28 January 2023 – 17:10
| No/Draw | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Make It Snappy | 7/2 | K de Melo | B Crawford |
| 4 | Jet Dark | 4/1 | R Fourie | J Snaith |
| 6 | Kommetdieding | 11/2 | G Lerena | H Crawford/M Rix |
| 14 | Cousin Casey | 6/1 | G van Niekerk | G Kotzen |
| 5 | Sparkling Water | 6/1 | S Khumalo | M de Kock |
| 7 | Universal | 16/1 | JP v'd Merwe | A Marcus |
| 12 | Al Muthana | 16/1 | P Strydom | R Maingard |
| 17 | Rascallion | 20/1 | S Veale | V Marshall |
| 1 | Golden Ducat | 25/1 | C Soumillon | E Sands |
| 3 | Marina | 33/1 | A Domeyer | C Bass-Robinson |
| 8 | Do It Again | 33/1 | B Fayd'Herbe | J Snaith |
| 13 | Warrior | 40/1 | R Munger | J Snaith |
| 10 | Zapatillas | 40/1 | L Mxothwa | B Crawford |
| 9 | Nexus | 40/1 | M Yeni | J Snaith |
| 16 | Linebacker | 40/1 | C Orffer | V Marshall |
| 19 | Pomp And Power | 50/1 | K Matsunyane | J Snaith |
| 11 | Waterberry Lane | 75/1 | R Danielson | R Maingard |
| 15 | Rain In Holland | 75/1 | C Habib | S Tarry |
| 18 | Gem King | 100/1 | G Wright | P Steyn |
